My Adventures as Mom's Caregiver - New Beginnings

"A Caregivers Beginning"

“Family” ---when I hear that word it still makes me feel warm and fuzzy. My story starts after my premature birth as Mom stroked and held my tiny hand in the incubator every day at the hospital for two months until she was able to bring me home. She swaddled, cuddled, nurtured, fed, cared, comforted, and taught me with abiding love.

My childhood is filled with precious memories of bursting outdoors to play with friends, stepping over my brother's Matchbox car sets and laughing over board games, playing with jacks, bat and ball sets, dolls, going to the movies, and frequenting concerts. As a family of loving parents and three children, the eldest being me, we also enjoyed numerous fun family gatherings and trips. My father was from North Carolina, the son of a Baptist Preacher and the youngest of twelve. He was a charismatic fun-loving man who retired from being a juice distributor for over five decades. He enjoyed traveling, fishing and entertaining his family and friends. He taught my brother, Lamar, important life lessons and how to be a man. Their bond became a deep and lasting friendship. Although at the end, Dad lived with Alzheimer's disease, he was frequently heard saying, "life don't owe me no change because I lived a long, happy, and satisfying life with no regrets."

Born in South Carolina, my Mom was the youngest of eight. After graduating from high school she moved from her family's farm in the country to the Big Apple, New York City, under the care of an older relative. Mom is sweet, charming, a devout church goer and was a proud hard working woman until her retirement. By her example of dress, grooming, and public decorum she taught me and my sister, Renee, the true essence of being a lady. She managed her household and finances so well that I aspire to follow suit. 

Due to the onset of dementia my siblings and I met to discuss our mother's ongoing care. Fortunately, prior to this need we held a family meeting with our Mother to discuss in detail her living will, medical directive, end of life preferences, and to set up her legal power of attorney. Because I am retired and have the circumstances to accommodate our Mom, my husband and I are her personal caregivers. We're talking about family here and you only have one mother. She's the same woman who carried me in her womb for seven months until my premature birth. Mom's daily routine of reading the Bible and hearing her frequent prayers awakened my spirituality. It's only proper to do whatever is necessary to make her comfortable and happy, especially now when she needs me most. This is my way of continuing to demonstrate the respect and honor that she deserves. However, when the roles are  reversed, it can get emotionally exhausting. We’ve all heard of the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Well, when writing this blog that is mainly my intention to keep a positive twist on life. You know, looking at the glass as being half full even though at times it's half full of nuts!

Keywords: humorous story about aging, stories about dealing with dementia, life growing up, funny tails about retirement, funny journals about caregiving, the funny side of getting older, taking care of an older family member, aging comedy

Hashtags: #aginghumor, #dealingwithdementia, #lifegrowingup, #funnytalesaboutretirement, #funnyjournalsaboutcaregiving, #thefunnysideofgettingolder, #takingcareofanolderfamilymember, #agingcomedy, #talesofacaregiver